Ty Gibbs holds on to win NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway

Newton, Iowa (AP) — Ty Gibbs secured a thrilling victory in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. The 23-year-old, grandson of former NFL coach and NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs, edged out his teammate Christopher Bell by just 0.253 seconds after 350 laps. The win marked Gibbs' second of the season and his career.

Despite both drivers pitting with 60 laps remaining, Gibbs opted for a two-tire change, while Bell went with four, allowing Gibbs to gain an advantage. When Ross Chastain pitted on Lap 330, Gibbs took the lead and held onto it despite Bell's late charge. Gibbs had initially faced a pit setback when his jack fell too early during his first stop, dropping him to 28th place.

However, he recovered to claim his first career win, which he achieved after starting the race ranked fourth in the season standings. Bell, who led 108 laps, remains second in the standings, trailing by 103 points.